News - Facebook disorder inciters get four years

[Noli]

Not according to Voltaire: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Minorca. The translation of the passage the phrase it's derived from goes: "In this country, it is wise to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others."

Actually, I reckon Crossy is right. It's all about context and I think your reference is out of context somewhat as killing Admirals probably encourages other Admirals 'to fight better' - which is the intention of Admirals (I believe). So if you meant harsher sentences will encourage other yobs to *not* riot then encourager is correct. That does sound a bit funny though as penalties are usually thought of as dissuasive so I think decourager makes more sense here as I think most people would understand harsher sentences to dissuade the angry yoofs from rioting (their intention) as much...

I'll shut up now.

[crossy]

Actually, I reckon Crossy is right. It's all about context and I think your reference is out of context somewhat as killing Admirals probably encourages other Admirals 'to fight better' - which is the intention of Admirals (I believe). So if you meant harsher sentences will encourage other yobs to *not* riot then encourager is correct. That does sound a bit funny though as penalties are usually thought of as dissuasive so I think decourager makes more sense here as I think most people would understand harsher sentences to dissuade the angry yoofs from rioting (their intention) as much... I'll shut up now.

Thanks for the support.

With regards sentencing - how come no one's bought up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04clpd7h0b0?

"plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" (Jean-Baptiste Karr)